Brother JS1400

Sturdy& reliable stitching - Great for a child – I bought the Brother JS1410 from gumtree.com.au for $30.00 AUD. The lady who sold it to me said she had lost all the parts to it, hence she was selling it for $30.00. Hence this sewing machine came with the normal sewing foot J (which is for general sewing), a size 14 needle already in the machine and nothing else. This sewing machine is OK for… Read more

$30, but I would not want to pay anymore for it - as it not worth than $30.00. But I have got my money's worth out of this machine - as I have used it quite a bit. In the last couple of months I floored the foot pedal quite a bit to make the sewing machine go faster - as it is a slow sewing machine compared my Bernina 1000.

The instruction manual for this sewing machine says DO NOT oil this sewing machine, as it has already been oiled in the factory. But after flooring the sewing machine for afew days it would not sew and only made a grunting noise when I pressed the foot pedal. So I put a tiny bit of oil in the holes on the sewing surface. After oiling this sewing machine - she sewed for a few hours. Then she would start grunting again. Then I oiled her again with a tiny bit of oil. She would sew again for a few hours and then grunt again after a few hours and then I oiled her abit again. Then she sewed again. She is now sewing well after a few weeks brake. I can see that this machine will not tolerate alot of sewing or she starts to grunt and will not sew until I give a bit of oil.

I also read in the JS1410 manual that "use only the power cord included with this machine". As I had no power cord with this sewing machine I had to improvise and use the power from my Brother 760D overlocker. My Brother 760D overlocker power cord was at least 25 years old when I started using it with my Brother JS1410 and it is still working well with the modern sewing machine.

This is a good sewing machine for a child or for anyone that needs a very easy sewing machine - as it has a very simple operating system with the one knob that controls every stitch pattern that is made. But it will not take alot of sewing when you push it to its maximum sewing speed for a whole day. It will need a rest for a few weeks and then it sew well again and it has had a rest.

Love my js1410 brother – Ive had my brother for over 5 yrs use it every week.I sew leather any material even do stretch sewing never had any problems i love my brother machine.Actually looking to buy my daughter one for her birthday next month.  Show details

Not happy – I bought one to sew Angel Gowns well have had nothing but trouble from not sewing properly to the actual cabinet cracking bought at Big W not happy and even though have receipt can't find a warranty anywhere. Does that mean it's not covered, brought it home and set up in sewing room hasn't been manhandled at all.  Show details

Don't get this machine may as well sew by hand it just saves me time – This machine just doesn't work. I have good quality thread and equipment in general but it just an absolute pain. I sew and it just stops and starts. I may as well sew by hand it just saves me time not to use the machine. I don't know where my receipt is and am going to buy a new machine. Don't waste your money by buying something cheap. Buy something good.  Show details

Good value for your buck – When my Janome over locker gave up ghost after less than 5 months and Janome Sewing Centre in Balcatta wouldn't do the repair on warranty but instead asked for min $150 I decided, that's it. I'm not paying that, had enough of Janome and its rip off sewing centre services, I was on tight budget and in the middle of sewing 3 knit outfits just… Read more

couldn't live without a machine. So I walked in Textile Traders just a few shops away from Janome and got the cheapest sewing machine they had there for $99. I was quite apprehensive that that sort of money I'm just getting another short lived heap of junk plus my husband gave me such a lecture for two days how I should have invested at least $400 in a decent machine. He literally droned on for hours and brought me to tears and was so eager for the little cheapie to pucker up so he can glow and triumph over me but lo and behold, the little blighter survived and for the money performed astonishingly well. It was my first sewing machine ever but since I had the crappy overlocker experience it was so easy to learn and reliable that I was stunned. Soon afterwards I purchased a walking foot for thick and layered fabrics and it was so easy to change over that I regretted not buying this little machine much earlier. Few weeks later I tried a twin needle for knit fabrics I'm so fond of as I read online that a twin needle helps to stretch the seam (true). The basic model I got has a little more than just straight and zigzag stitches, just 13 or 14 stitches off my memory. Different sizes for straight stitch, a few varieties of zigzag, button sewing option. Currently I'm trying sewing knits with wooly nylon in the bobbin and twin needle with two thread spools (one spool on bobbin winder). Works pretty well, seams on knits are flexible to accommodate super stretchy fabric.

With a sewing machine you need to use stretch needle for knits and regular needle for wovens. If you're tossing between an overlocker and a sewing machine my advice would be go for a sewing machine - you get better value and its much more user and in this case also budget friendly. Threading is a breeze as opposed to Janome overlocker, hardly any needle breakage (whilst with Janome locker needles broke by dozens). You may want to cut off excess seam allowance fabric after sewing internal construction seams but its not necessary (the advantage of an overlocker is having the blade cutter cut off excess automatically while sewing - you don't have that option with a sewing machine). Overall seams hold well, clothes don't fall apart, no wardrobe malfunction so far and that's the basis isn't it?

Let me stress out that this basic cheapest Brother model is a thrifty valuable little purchase. I can see there's a Brother overlocker for $400 in Textile Traders, most likely well worth trying. As a sewing machine virgin (well, not anymore) I have nothing but praise for my first time sewing machine.

A brilliant machine for the price – I read the other reviews before I decided to purchase this sewing machine and was impressed with what other people had to say. I was just looking for something basic that was easy to use and the Brother JS1400 certainly fits the bill. The instruction DVD and operation manual that came with the machine were easy to follow and the machine is very… Read more

light weight and is capable of doing a variety of stitches as well as button holes and zippers. It has several attachments and can sew thick, thin and and stretch fabrics.

It was on special for $99 at the time of purchase - how could you go wrong?

Perfect for a beginner – I bought this sewing machine more than six months ago at a bargain price. I am very new to sewing, with very basic hand-sewing skill. What I love about this machine is its quite lightweight, thus a petite person like me can carry it around anywhere. It has a small compartment at the side for storing small sewing kit and threads. For a beginner… Read more

like me, this sewing machine is surprisingly easy. I felt comfortable doing simple stitching and sewing, and the electric pedal is quite sensitive to the changes in pressure from my small feet.

Excellent Value – I bought this machine a few months ago as a back-up for my computerised brother machine for those times when I work on two different projects and don't want to change threads, feet, etc, or simply when the other machine is being serviced. I have found it very easy to use, with nice, even stitches, perfect for anyone looking for a simple,… Read more

uncomplicated machine. With nearly sixty years of sewing experience (starting with my mother's treadle machine), I am happy to recommend this machine to anyone looking for a straightforward machine that is easy to use and works well.

Great Machine for the Price – I am new to sewing and I bought this machine on sale at Myer in July. I started making place mats, then a blanket and then a skirt and I have had no problems. For the price that I paid it is a great machine. I am a beginner and this is a basic machine, when I become more advanced at sewing I will buy a better (more expensive) sewing machine. The instructional DVD is useful for learning to thread the machine correctly.

Awesome machine – Bought it the other day and its wonderful for sewing domestically and on a budget. beginners and professionals would love this one and it even comes with an instructional dvd if you have troubles or if you would love to make something as a beginner or for fun. its even great for button holes and zipper stitches.

Buy something else – I was given this machine as a birthday present in July this year. From day dot it hasn't worked. The top thread gets stuck underneath the bobbin carrier, nothing I do seems to make a difference. I've tried rethreading, rewinding the bobbin, changing the needle, adjusting the tension etc. And I'm only using the equipment that came with the machine.… Read more

I've returned it and exchanged it once already and the machine is still having the same issue. I'm going to return it and buy a different machine. Don't buy this machine it's a piece of junk.

I hate this sewing machine – \Loopthemy kids bought me this sewing machine as a mothers day present after using a singer threadfor years.this is the worst sewing machine I have ever used.i spend more time trying to fix the bobbin so it sews properly than I do sewing.all it does is loop the thread underneath no matter how many times I try and fix it.im going back to singer.